How to Plan a Cool Summer Party Without Breaking the Bank

Summer is in full swing, and there are a host of reasons to celebrate. Luckily there’s no need to bust your budget while entertaining friends and family. Here are our favorite money-saving tips for parties from planning and shopping to solutions for leftovers.

Serve Summer’s Bounty

Here are a handful of ideas on how to let the season’s finest flavors standout on your table.

Cook a whole fish on the grill, stovetop or in the oven. Then focus on flavor, not portion size, by allowing 3–4 ounces of fish per person and serving it over a salad or in tacos.

Grill a whole spatchcocked chicken, and then shred the meat off the bone for crowd-pleasing tacos, salads or enchiladas. Spatchcocking (or removing the backbone) lets a chicken lay almost flat, ensuring even cooking on the grill. It’s an economical choice allowing you to buy a whole bird rather than wings, breasts and drumsticks separately. Bonus: Chickens sold at Whole Foods Market come with a heaping helping of standards — including no antibiotics, ever.

Shop for Savings

Look for what’s on sale now. Search local sales on our website and stock up. For example, buy lots of cherries when they’re on sale and pit and freeze for later or blend and freeze for fruity ice cubes or ice pops.

Case discount. Get discounted pricing on most items when you buy a full case including fruit, sparkling water and wine (in most stores). Ask for details at Customer Service.

Cut costs in half. If you need only half a melon, chunk of cheese, fish fillet, loaf of fresh bread, etc., we’re happy to provide just the half you need.

Reinvent Leftovers

Control waste and get the most out of your money by putting leftover ingredients towards delicious new meals. Here are a few ideas:

Use buns to make croutons and breadcrumbs

Crumbled up burgers can be added to quesadillas or burritos or top a pizza

Search The Blog

About the Blog

Welcome to Whole Story, the official blog of Whole Foods Market.

As the world’s leading natural and organic grocer we’re all about healthy food and a healthy planet, and we've got bunches of passionate people in our community doing incredible things. Join in the conversation!